Recognise plants, Topic 3: Plant morphology. Part 2 flowers and inflorescences Flashcards
Flowering plants are _________
Angiosperms
Morphology–
Shape and form
Why is it important to understand flower structure?
It is easier to group them into their families.
The reproductive parts and sexual syndromes of species tend to be ______ _______ through evolutionary time and do not change.
strongly fixed.
Lable the following parts of a typical flower.
Define: Pedicel
The pedicel is the stem of the flower (similarly to the petiole of a leaf). Flowers, as we will see later, are often clustered into groups. Each individual flower is supported by a pedicel.
Define Peduncle
A peduncle is the common support for a whole group of flowers (known as an inflorescence). A peduncle is the base support for what might be hundreds of flowers!
Define Receptacle
The receptacle lies above the pedicel and acts as a base-plate for the flower. The tip of a stalk from which the flower parts arise, the shape may vary from convex, to flattened or concave. Where the receptacle is concave, the ‘arm’ which extend out from the receptacle and hold the sepals and petals is called the hypanthium.
Calyx
The Calyx is the first whorl of the flower and usually consists of leaf-looking organs called SEPALS that enclose the flower when in bud and then split open, allowing the flower to emerge out. (Think the petals at the top of a tomato.)
Corolla
On top of the Calyx is usually a group of coloured petals. Each petal may have a slightly different shape. All of the petals are known as the corolla.
Perianth
- A collective term for the calyx and corolla;
- if either the calyx or corolla is absent, the remaining whorl is called the perianth; and
- if there are two whorls present but both whorls are similar in shape, size, texture and/or colour they are both referred to as the perianth.
